Oakwell Festival looking to leave a lasting impression

Phil Harrison

OAKWELL Music Festival returns this weekend, determined to step out of the shadow of its big city neighbours.

Chart-toppers The Feeling are the headliners at Gomersal’s Oakwell Hall Country Park on Sunday, July 12, and the festival will also feature music from a number of other acts, many hailing from the local area.

Among the others playing are 90’s indie darlings Dodgy, R&B girl band Stooshe and, from the West Yorkshire scene, Apollo Junction, Hope & Social, who were heavily involved in last year’s Tour de Yorkshire celebrations, singer-songwriter Rupert Stroud and Cleckheaton’s The Hijacked.

Across four stages, other acts on show include Wakefield’s indie-punksters The Ainsley Band, punk rockers from Mirfield, Liberate and Leeds alt-country rockers Broken Flowers,

The not for profit making event will help local community groups in the area and is also being used to promote local talent on the music scene.

Festival organiser, Paul Fisher said: “The development and planning of Oakwell Festival had initially taken over two years and we’ve only got to this stage with the help of such a dedicated team and a fantastic crowd.

“The festival was put together to bring great music to an area lacking in opportunities or overshadowed by it’s big brother cities and now we’ve made our mark we intend to make it bigger and better every year”.

Tickets for the festival - which opens its gates at 11am - are £25 for adult and £10 for children 11-16 with under 10’s going free. Tickets are still on sale and can be ordered on the website, www.oakwellfestival.co.uk or bought at Dewsbury and Cleckheaton town halls or Oakwell Hall visitor centre.

If you would like to discuss volunteering at the event or want more information contact the festival team via email at festival@oakwellfestival.co.uk or phone 07766 254850.